Women and Science: A Celebration of International Women’s Day at Perimeter Institute

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, March 4, 2013 – In recognition of International Women’s Day 2013, Perimeter Institute is hosting two conferences to celebrate and promote women in scientific careers, as well as achievements made by women in the sciences.Inspiring Future Women in Science

On Thursday, March 7, 2013, Perimeter’s Educational Outreach team is hosting a half-day conference for high school students entitled “Inspiring Future Women in Science.” The goal of this event is to bring together like-minded young women with a strong interest in science and expose them to the rewards, challenges, and possibilities of a career in science.

The conference will open with a keynote address by Dr. Adriana Ocampo, NASA Science Mission Program Executive. The conference program also includes a panel discussion featuring women that are currently involved in science-based careers, as well as a speed mentoring session providing conference participants with the opportunity to engage in small group discussions with representatives from a variety of science career paths.

The Women and Physics conference will bring together historians, philosophers, and social scientists who study gender issues in science, as well as physicists from Perimeter Institute and other centres. Speakers and panelists include:

• John Berlinsky, Director of Academic Programs at Perimeter Institute and Professor of Physics & Astronomy (emeritus) at McMaster University

• Sampa Bhadra, experimental particle physicist and Professor in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at York University

• Melanie C. W. Campbell, Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Waterloo and cross-appointed to the School of Optometry

• Carla Fehr, Wolfe Chair in Science and Technology Studies in the Philosophy Department at the University of Waterloo

• Shohini Ghose, Associate Professor in the Department of Physics and Computer Science, and Director of the Centre for Women in Science at Wilfrid Laurier University

• Rachel Ivie, Associate Director of the Statistical Research Center (SRC) at the American Institute of Physics

• Paul E. Jessop, Dean of Science and Professor in the Department of Physics & Computer Science and Wilfrid Laurier University

The goals of the conference are to highlight the achievements of women in science, to encourage current female students to continue to pursue physics, to catalyze conversations on their future in science, and to foster collaborations that strengthen the community of women in physics.

About Perimeter Institute

Perimeter Institute is the world’s largest research hub devoted to theoretical physics. The independent Institute was founded in 1999 to foster breakthroughs in the fundamental understanding of our universe, from the smallest particles to the entire cosmos. Research at Perimeter is motivated by the understanding that fundamental science advances human knowledge and catalyzes innovation, and that today’s theoretical physics is tomorrow’s technology. Located in the Region of Waterloo, the not-for-profit Institute is a unique public-private endeavour, including the Governments of Ontario and Canada, that enables cutting-edge research, trains the next generation of scientific pioneers, and shares the power of physics through award-winning educational outreach and public engagement.